#testing him to see if his love is genuine because he cannot help but want it to be true oh so desperately

[blastiebabe]

hell yeah, you are spoiled

Bakugo Katsuki x Reader

You place your phone somewhere Katsuki cannot notice, and in an angle enough to be able to see most of the space in the bedroom you share with him.

You press record and come back to sitting in front of your vanity table to continue getting ready for your date night. You have seen this TikTok video and was inspired by it to put your phone on record to test how easily your boyfriend can be enraged for you.

Katsuki comes into your shared bedroom wearing only trouser pants that fits perfectly in his waist and accentuate his hips. Seeing him through your mirror, you can't help but realize how beautiful your boyfriend is. Katsuki heads to the closet looking for a shirt to wear.

"Love, what color are you wearing?" He asks as he look at his clothes on the rack.

You came back to your senses when you heard him speak, you have been so mesmerized by his beauty you almost forgot you were shooting.

"A black dress." You replied, looking at his direction. "Why?"

Katsuki looks back at you. "Just askin'." He says as he brings out a black polo and proceeds to sit on the bed.

You smirk at his response. "You wanna match colors with me or somethin'?" You tease him.

"Nah uh." You watch his condescending expression from his reflection on the mirror, his tone with an attitude while simultaneously having red ears. If you aren't planning anything, you weren't gonna let that slide, but since you are, you'll prioritize that.

You laugh at him and continued your make up, trying to find the right time to throw him the reason you started recording. He laid on the bed scrolling on his phone while waiting for you.

A minute passed, and you decided to finally tell him. "Love..." Katsuki immediately darted his eyes straight at you, waiting for the next thing you'll say.

"I have something I need to tell you but promise you won't be mad, okay?" You say calmly, acting yourself the hell out.

Katsuki immediately changed his position and sits up straight, eyes locked at you with a hint of worry in his face. "I ain't making any promises. What is it?"

You turn your back on the mirror and faced your boyfriend who has now a visibly worried face. You look at the floor and started playing with your fingers, making him worry more.

He stands up and sits on the edge of the bed in front of you. He is now near you and looking straight at you while you continue to look at the floor. "Princess, come on, you can tell me..."

"Well, I... I have read some comments on your social media page..." You look at Katsuki before you, you feel a hint of guilt when you saw how genuine his concern is. But you needed to continue.

"Mm hmm. And then?" He asks calmly.

"And... and some of your fans have left comments on the pictures you have uploaded of me."

"The hell did they say?" Katsuki asks now with a hint of irritation from his voice. This is going well. You thought.

"They said I am super spoiled." You say as sad as your acting can be.

You can clearly see the shift in Katsuki's eyes as you have muttered the last word, and his annoyance suddenly became a repressed laughter. He snorts as he covers his mouth.

You face him offended. Did he just laugh because other people called you spoiled? What the fuck?

Before you can even tell him off, he stands up, grabs his polo and started wearing it. "Love, you are spoiled." He says emphasizing on it.

"Katsuki, what the actual fuck?" You say having a hard time to process what he is saying.

He was about to button his polo when he suddenly sees you look so disappointed to what he just said. He clearly isn't making himself clear. He goes in front you, his right knee touching the floor as he looks straight into your eyes.

"My love, you honestly better be spoiled. Because I do spoil you, don't I?" Katsuki reaches for your hands. "So, hell yeah, you are spoiled. Because you are my princess and you deserve to get everything you want."

You can literally feel your annoyance slowly fading out. How can this man be so damn mean and sweet at the same fucking time?

Katsuki continues, "I know you spoil yourself even before we started dating, so it is my job to spoil you better than you spoil yourself." You can straight up see how genuine his words are through his eyes.

"And if I may I remind you, I am more than willing to spoil you 'til the ends of the Earth if it means I get to make you be happiest you've ever been." The man before you explain as he cups your cheek with his hand.

This conversation has turned into a completely different route from what you had expected. You had expected him to be furious about the comments, to be protective to not let other people talk like that about you. But turns out Katsuki has his own way to make you feel so damn good. This. This is the reason why Katsuki is different from all the other damned extras.

You can literally feel tears forming in your eyeballs. You cup both his cheeks with your hands, knowing anytime the damned tears might just fall. "You know I love you so damn much, right?"

You feel his smile in the palm of your hands. "Of course I do, my love." As soon as these words depart from his lips, you took the opportunity to have your lips met his.

Using your tongue to explain and make him remember how much you love him, and all the other things you feel for him that can never be explained by words alone.

Your hands travel on the nape of his neck bringing him closer to you as you deepen the kiss. You feel his hands at the small of your back as he let you lead.

When your lips parted, both of you are catching for your breath. You stare at Katsuki's mesmerizing face before you with his eyes glistening. "Now that was a perfect example of how you spoil me."

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ thank u for reading! :>> . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ ༶•┈ by yel0ngkape ┈•༶ i accept requests, so feel free to reach out! ♡

[secriden]

#Fadel not answering right away when Style asked if he knows where his brother is#tells me he knows exactly where Bison must have taken Kant to (= his parents' house in the island‚ the place he had suggested they ran to)#but is in no hurry to get there#because now reaching his destination also means reaching the end of his and Style's journey - tags by @braceletofteeth

Hey, if Bison can diverge from the plan and kidnap his traitorous boyfriend for himself for an indeterminate period of time instead of killing him like they agreed upon, so can Fadel, ok?

They are in judgement free zones for as long as it takes for Fadel to find him and they are forced to admit to each other the embarrasing truth—that neither of them wants to get through with this.

[seeliemansi]

You Took Him Home (Mr. Crawling x Reader)

Synopsis: There is no ghost in the abandoned rumored haunted building your friends dared for you to visit. No, not anymore. Because you took it- you took him home. And you are not sure how to ask him to go back home. (He is just so sweet, cute, and adorable)

a/n: would love and appreciate your feedbacks, reblogs and likes! let's keep the homicipher community alive! 🫶🏼 btw, this is just a test draft

—------------

“You're firing me?” You asked, terrified.

“No….no…no! You misunderstood.” Principal Sarah shook her head in disagreement. Hands waving in front. “We just think..” She paused. “That you needed more rest. We love to have you here. The kids love you. The parents trust you. It's just-”

You got lost on what the principal was saying as your attention was caught by the crawling man, giggling at the ABCD cards posted on the wall. He looked at you, and happily pointed at the word “A” with an illustration of an apple. Apple, the word he learned today. He chirply said apple and giggled when you dare to steal a nod in his direction, praising him, so he won't bother your important talk.

However, your face contorted in concern as he continued crawling around the floor and looking for things he wasn't familiar with.

“Uhm…are you listening?” Your eyes snapped back to the principal, who was now looking behind her, frowning, as she tried to look at whatever it was behind her that made your brows furrowed with concern.

“Ah! Yes, yes. I will happily take the break. I’ve- The accident was just so traumatizing that sometimes my mind tends to wander. I know my doctor already said that I can continue working but I am grateful that you will allow me to have more breaks. As long…as you know you are not firing me.” You try to bring her attention back to you. Biting your cheeks at the inside as you try to focus on your problem at hand. And ignore the sound he is making as he crawls around.

“As I said before, we are not firing you. The substitute teachers will take over your class while you are gone. And we hope that it will help with your full recovery. You are a good teacher. I admit that I don't want to lose you. I wish you well.” She said, eyes sincere and warm hands squeezed your shoulder with reassurance. You can only give her a genuine smile, and was just grateful for her trust.

Because sincerely, you are not sure how you are going back to normal after a one week break when you know damn well that Mr. Crawling will be in your home forever.

Because….uhmm…well….you invited him in.

You cannot even blame yourself as to why.

How could you not?!

He saved you from the falling debris, when a part of the abandoned building collapsed. He took the fall and even bled, you were not sure how ghosts bleed, when they are already dead but he did, and hugged you tightly to protect you.

He even gave you head pats to calm you down when you panicked, thinking you are not going to be back home anymore. You will lose your hard earned career, your hardwork, your dreams.

And even follows you around as you look for the exit, being helpful and cheerful to keep your mind off the panic that sets in when it's just you and the silence.

No soul exchange, no money involved, he was just happy he was able to help you.

So when you finally found the way out, you thanked him and left. Thinking that was it, grateful for his kindness.

But one day, before you started teaching again, you went back and found him at the same spot, at the same position before you left him, waiting for you to come back. It was a week after that but he waited patiently for you. The way you watch his crestfallen face lights up when he sees you. His giggle; loud and cheerful. His smile is so wide, warm, familiar, and welcoming.

So how could you not!?

So how could you just leave him behind?

Well, maybe that one week is just you training yourself how you get used to his presence. And not act like a crazy person after a very traumatizing accident.

Ah…yes.. that's that.

You can do it.

You nodded as you lie to yourself and squat down and stared at the item Mr. Crawling was pointing at, and asking for you to share what it was.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

riddle and how he views his mother

Consider this a part 2 to this analysis! A while ago, I was asked "Why doesn't Riddle resent his mother?", which is the question that the original analysis answers.

Recently, Riddle's Night Sky's Chiffon vignettes were released into the world, and it contains a lot of interesting details that expand on how Riddle views his mother. I wanted to commentate on this new information and how it supports what I said in the original post.

The topic of mothers comes up in these vignettes. Deuce, who was talking about his own mom, quickly realizes that it's awkward to mention parents in front of Riddle, so he apologizes. To his surprise, Riddle is super chill about it and tells Deuce he doesn't really mind, so be at ease. And then Riddle states it outright, clear as day: "I'm grateful to my mother."

Deuce follows up with a comment to the effect of, "It looks like moms are strong in every family", to which Riddle actually agrees.

Riddle credits his mom for his ability to do many things in the present. For example, he took gymnastics classes so he was able to pull off the ballet in this event (one of the Princess in the Tower's required activities). He also learned social dancing, which comes in handy for formal events such as Ghost Marriage and Glorious Masquerade. Most notably, Riddle excels in academics--he is noted as being top of this grade multiple times, has prevented any students in Heartslabyul from dropping out, and is able to memorize 3 magic engineering/coding textbooks in only just a few minutes + helps to keep Malleus at bay in a recent main story update--something which no one else would be able to achieve. He's also able to cast powerful spells in quick succession as the result of his magical training from a young age. It can be argued, then, that despite Mrs. Rosehearts' methods, she did ultimately instill many useful skills in Riddle to set him up for success as a mage. He recognizes the value in that, and acknowledges her for it. There is always a part of Riddle that thinks he is a "better" person today because of his mother's discipline, even if he is just now starting to question her methodology.

He is disciplined and capable because of his upbringing--this cannot be denied. And Riddle can't find it in himself to resent his mother because of that. This woman raised him and taught him all these things because she genuinely believed this was what was "best" for him. How can he hate her for that? For just doing what she thought was her "best"?

I also want to point out how Riddle and his mother are shown to be "one and the same" in these vignettes. Later on, Riddle expresses that he wants to send out a mass email commanding all the Heartslabyul students to prepare at least 10 lanterns each to release in the night, or else there will be punishment awaiting them. He worries that the mobs won't be motivated to help without the threat of a punishment looming over them. Sure enough, when Trey and Cater pass on Riddle's order, the mobs complain and talk about how much nicer it is around Heartslabyul without the dorm leader breathing down their necks. However, the two third years then remind the mobs that while Riddle is strict, he HAS helped them. He provides test notes, edits essays, and hosts study sessions for his dorm members. The mobs eventually realize they need Riddle around, so they end up pitching in and getting those lanterns.

THIS IS PARALLELING MRS. ROSEHEARTS. Like his mother, Riddle is very strict with those under his care--but it comes from a place of his "love", from wanting to see them succeed. And, like Riddle is with his mom, the mobs cannot detach themselves entirely from their dorm leader. I know that book 1 primarily paints Riddle adopting his mother's attitude as a toxic thing (and it is, when it gets out of control)--but with moderation, it also has its useful applications, as we see in these vignettes.

Now let's not get it twisted; none of this erases the absurd restrictions imposed on Riddle, her intense rage, or the child neglect/abuse committed. What I am saying is that she is a person too, not a blob of all things bad in the world. She deserves grace and to have her positives acknowledged too--and this naturally feeds into Riddle's complicated feelings about her, especially now that he sees her bad sides... something he never really faced before.

Riddle's vignettes end on a hopeful note, though I don't know if the characters themselves realize the implications of it. The final scene takes place with the lantern-filled sky, and Deuce wondering why the Princess in the Tower grew her hair out so long to begin with. Was she planning to escape all along? But Jack explains that the witch that kidnapped her wanted the Princess to grow her hair long. The Princess in the Tower obeyed this wish, even though maintaining such long hair is a hassle. To this, Deuce comments that she really must have seen the witch as her mother. Riddle then says that no matter how precious the hair was, it's still cumbersome. "She can't even walk like this." AND THEN RIDDLE JUST CASUALLY SLICES HIS HAIR OFF, NO HESTIATION... ONE CHOP. Deuce panics because the ends look ugly, but Riddle simply replies there's no need to worry, "I do not need long hair anymore."

DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THAT MEANS???????? ? ??? ? ????? Long hair is the symbol of Rapunzel's oppression. It is something she maintains because her oppressor, Gothel, told her to. But long hair is also what ultimately frees her from the tower. The same is true of Riddle. He largely does what he is told to by his mother, believing that she is always correct. Riddle almost doesn't leave the library (despite the long hair being an easy way out) because "I've decided. Never again." He's so close to locking himself up in that metaphorical tower and not allowing himself out for fear of incurring her wrath for disobeying. And in the end, Riddle is still able to leave that tower. He so easily slices his long hair, something which prevents the Princess--HIM--from walking. But in severing that thread, CUTTING THE HAIR, he is freeing himself and finding a way to walk independently.

Maybe Riddle can't do it today (as he so clearly still respects his mother and all that she has done for him)... maybe not tomorrow, either... but someday. Someday...!! Someday, Riddle will be able to "cut his long hair" and walk on his own 😭 and then his life will truly "begin"... Why this nuanced writing get shoved into a vignette and not in the Wish Lantern event story itself, I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND--

[yokumirumerafan]

Hello! I've fallen in love with your posts (esp those featuring Muzan) and wanted to make a request. Could you do a take on Muzan if he fell in love with a young woman and married her, only to discover he couldn't turn her into a demon because she already had blue spider lily in her DNA? She isn't a demon, but her family used the flower to save her life during her mother's pregnancy (like Tangle)?

That’s such a cool and unique idea! Here’s how Muzan would react:

Muzan Falling in Love and Marrying a Woman Who Has Blue Spider Lily in Her DNA

🎭 The Beginning – Unintentional Love

Originally approaches her out of curiosity—her scent is unlike any human he’s encountered.

Assumes she’s just another tool in his pursuit of immortality.

Ends up genuinely captivated by her intelligence, fearlessness, and unique presence.

Finds himself drawn to her warmth in a way he can’t explain.

Conflicted—he shouldn’t care for a human, but he craves her company.

Eventually marries her, believing he has finally found the perfect woman to stand beside him.

🦠 The Failed Transformation – Absolute Shock & Horror

Tries to turn her into a demon… and nothing happens.

At first, believes it’s a mistake—tries multiple times, increasing the dose.

Still no reaction—no sickness, no mutations, nothing.

Panic sets in. Muzan never fails at turning humans.

Conducts extensive tests on her blood, trying to figure out why.

🌿 The Blue Spider Lily Revelation

Discovers her family used the Blue Spider Lily to save her life when her mother had a complicated pregnancy.

The flower is now part of her DNA—she’s immune to demonic transformation.

For the first time in centuries, he’s speechless.

She has the key to his greatest desire within her, but he can’t access it.

Equal parts awe and fury. How is it that the one woman he loves is the one human he cannot turn into a demon?

💀 Love vs. Obsession – The Struggle

Becomes even more obsessed with her, not just as a wife, but as a living secret.

Protects her aggressively—no demon is allowed near her.

Keeps her isolated—his paranoia makes him unwilling to let others discover her secret.

Would rather destroy the world than let someone take her from him.

Torn between cherishing her as his wife and treating her as an experiment.

If she ever tries to leave? He won’t let her. Not because he wants to punish her, but because he can’t afford to lose her.

🖤 His Soft Side – The One Exception

Despite everything, he treats her differently from everyone else.

Never raises his voice at her, no matter how angry he is.

Gives her rare freedoms—walks in the moonlight, access to knowledge, beautiful clothing.

Acts human around her—she’s the only one who sees his rare moments of vulnerability.

Deep down, he knows she is the closest thing he has to a true weakness.

⚠️ The Future – A Dangerous Love

If she offers to help him find more Blue Spider Lilies, he’ll be both grateful and frustrated—it proves she’s willing to stay with him, but also means he still doesn’t have full control.

If she hides information from him, he will be hurt rather than angry.

He would never harm her, but he might resort to manipulation to ensure she remains by his side forever.

Muzan may not fully understand love, but she is the one person he would destroy the world for.

[stxneflxwers]

I saw your post and came running 👀 I've been thinking about this since the end of December bc I really did not get into the holiday spirit until after it was over lmao BUT for any characters you want to write for: what are they like during the holidays? What traditions do they like to do? What gifts do they give you?

(Extra ideas you can take or leave if it helps your inspiration at all — How does Aventurine feel when you tell him you don't need any of those expensive gifts, just time with him? How does Sunday react when you sit him down to tell him he's stressing himself out too hard trying to find a perfect gift for you and that all you want is for him to be happy? How does Dan Heng respond when you tell him that the only gift you want for the holidays is him?)

^ I've just been rotating the hsr boys in my head all day at work lol so I have a lot of Thoughts™

gift of love.

summary. the greatest gift of all is his love.

a/n. tysm for the request!!! i decided to settle with gift-giving ideas you offered, since it sounded interesting and cute!! im just gonna stick with aven and sunday for this tho... i wanna test how sunday writes for me.

characters. aventurine. sunday.

cw. first time writing for sunday (this is more of a test with how much i enjoy writing him, sry for any OOC-ness). gift-giving. all lowercase. established relationship(s). PLS NOTE THAT I HAVEN'T DONE THE NEW TRAILBLAZE MISSION STILL CUZ I'M A LAZY MFER...SORRY.

aventurine.

tries to be soooo sneaky about figuring out what you like as gifts. he wants all of his gifts to be a surprise, after all! it doesn't work. you see right through his game plan. he's a smidgen disappointed (with himself), and might be a bit surprised depending on the kind of person you are.

he still ends up showering you in expensive gifts of things you enjoy. he tries to find the most expensive edition of any of those things even though he, of all people, should know that expensive ≠ well-made. you have to tell him to chill out.

he immediately believes you're angry with him (why wouldn't you be?). but you're not, and you can see the panic flash in his eyes for the tiniest of moments. you sigh softly with a wary smile. you briefly give him some space before talking to him about it.

you tell him that all the most expensive gifts in the world are nothing in comparison to quality time together. you remain patient with an open-mind and a listening ear – you know he needs a wealth of both. you make sure to tell him you miss him.

his mouth hangs open in silence when you tell him that, for once he's at a loss for words. his mouth closes and he smiles. he takes you into a soft hug and whispers, "i miss you too."

he makes an evident effort to be around you more often when he does have the time. you know, instead of wasting half of it out in the casino.

and it makes all the difference.

sunday.

the most perfectionist to ever perfectionist. stop him before he literally keels over from stress.

thankfully, you notice how weary he's been. and you ask him what's wrong. because at this point – everyone knows, everyone notices how he's been stuck in his head (more than usual). he frets over little things, as usual. but now he seems almost snippy. birdie is cranky.

when he eventually gives in and confesses that he cannot find the "right" gift for you, you're smiling and shaking your head. you give him a very long moment of silence, testing him – seeing if he catches on what you'll say next.

he doesn't catch on "quick enough", much to his dismay. perhaps he hasn't adjusted to your praises and reassurances...yet.

you tell him that the greatest gift of all would be for him to be happy. to be relaxed. to be in the moment. you throw in a little whisper, "maybe by my side, too."

he's silent – his mind running amok with what to say next. he settles for an awkward yet genuinely affectionate, "thank you..."

and then he asks for your forgiveness once he collects himself. you laugh softly and forgive him, you've gotten used to him asking for your forgiveness rather often. only yours, though.

at some point, you're going to need to tell him that forgiving himself is far more important.

[wooahoe]

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan vs older brother’s best friend!joshua…

deja vu; aka i think that jeonghan fits this song better but i was trying to write for shua…ft older brother!seungcheol (1.1k-ish words) mlist — 🎧 saranghey❕ryn’s playlist — @maestro-net

many 땡큐 베리 감사s to jay @ppyopulii and sousy @sousydive i cannot write breakups for shit so MWAH ty for the ideas ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

THIS IS NOT POLY MAESTRONET DON’T COME AFTER ME PLS

written in hc format bc im lazy asf sorry gang 😔 also for context shua is a foreign exchange student

—

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan whose sister’s name is gonna be soobin because i’m pretty sure that’s his actual sister’s name? idk he mentioned it in a live once and i’m lazy so yeah

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan whose sister has been your best friend since the beginning of time

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who also happens to be friends with your older brother

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who was genuinely a menace when you were younger but he’s chill now less of a menace now

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who reached out to you in high school, because you had the same biology class and he needed help

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who claimed that you were the only option he had if he wanted to preserve his ego

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who doesn’t stop talking to you, even after he stops needing help with homework

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who tells you that if he gets a higher grade than you on the final exam, he gets to take you out on a date

no, you do not have a choice in the matter

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who will not stop texting you, asking what you got on the test, ignoring the fact that if he got a higher score than you, you might fuck up your friendship with soobin for good :( and your relationship with seungcheol :(

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who you find out has asked both seungcheol and soobin for permission to go after you long before you even started the school year (she said yes)

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who makes you tear up a bit when you read the words across the screen, but he doesn’t need to know that

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who ends up getting a grade that’s half a point higher and promptly tells you to meet him at the park in ten minutes, because he did not wait an entire semester just to ask you out over text

(older brother!seungcheol who asks you why you’re lowkey crying, and when you respond with jeonghan’s name, he starts swearing only for you to calm him tf down because hello you need him to drive you to the damn park!!)

best friend’s older brother!jeonghan who, within the span of ten minutes, somehow managed to show up with a bouquet of crocheted flowers. which also happen to be your favorite kind.

best friend’s older brother boyfriend!jeonghan is a great boyfriend. he’s attentive, and kind, and he does like to tease you but it’s also jeonghan we’re talking about

boyfriend!jeonghan is the kind of boyfriend that shows up to your class randomly with a gift, because he said it reminded him of you

boyfriend!jeonghan is the kind of boyfriend who wasn’t overly touchy, but still made you feel loved and safe and secure and me when

boyfriend!jeonghan is everything you could’ve asked for. so when he suddenly breaks up with you…

let’s just say that older brother!seungcheol is Not Happy At All and best friend’s older brother!jeonghan better fucking run

guess who’s sitting there while older brother!seungcheol is plotting best friend’s older brother!jeonghan’s demise?

his best friend, joshua motherfucking jisoo hong

older brother’s best friend!joshua, seeing your discomfort, offers to take you out for boba while older brother!seungcheol blows off some steam furiously texting his former friend

older brother’s best friend!joshua is sweet. he’s willing to listen to your side of the story, and god is he every bit the perfect gentleman. i’m talking holding the door open for you, pulling your chair out, paying, etc etc

older brother’s best friend!joshua might just end up being the perfect distraction from your ex

you really need to stop falling for your brother’s friends

older brother’s best friend!joshua, unsurprisingly, likes you back !! thinks you’re really cute

older brother’s best friend!joshua is also hella terrified of older brother!seungcheol, (esp after yjh) so he’s a little cautious about showing affection

older brother’s best friend!joshua, however, is a green flag !! we love to see it

older brother’s best friend!joshua tells you this over text, a few months after that initial boba date

older brother’s best friend!joshua also tells you that you don’t have to do anything about it, but he didn’t want you to think that he’d been leading you on or anything if his feelings continued

which would be great, except for the fact that he kinda had been (unknowingly) toying with your feelings these past few months

but it’s okay, because you tell older brother’s best friend!joshua to meet you at the same boba shop that you’d gone to, three months prior

and that’s where you’re meeting, a year later, because he’s thinking of going back to los angeles for uni

and you’re definitely not crashing out

but older brother’s best friend boyfriend!joshua tells you that he’s willing to do long distance, but if you can’t hold up? he’s okay to cut it off, too. for you.

boyfriend!joshua says that you don’t have to decide now. he’s not leaving for a few more months, and he’s there for you, no matter what you decide

he leaves you to your thoughts and your fruit tea

or so you think, because best friend’s older brother!jeonghan sits down in front of you, asking if the seat is taken

—

“no, my boyfriend just left.”

jeonghan hums.

“joshua, right? he’s good for you.”

you raise an eyebrow at that, and frown. after a few moments of pent up frustration, you ask the question that’s been on your mind for the past year.

“why?”

“why what?”

“yoon jeonghan.”

he sighs.

“i wanted you to find someone better than me. looks like you found him.”

you purse your lips, and exasperated fondness begins to creep into your eyes.

“and how do you know that? how do you know if joshua is good for me or not?”

what if i still miss you?

“he is.”

he says this with that stupid knowing air of his, and you can’t decide if you love him or hate him for it.

“jeonghan, you don’t get to decide that for me.”

“besides, he’s leaving me.”

“what.”

jeonghans gaze whips from the window to you.

“he’s going back to la. for college. and i don’t know if he knows when he’s coming back.”

jeonghan’s eyes look at you with a mix of pity and regret, something that you can’t take, not after the whirlwind of a conversation that you had with joshua. tears begin to pool in your eyes, and when jeonghan pushes a napkin over, you can’t help but grip his hand instead.

“yah-”

“don’t say anything. just…give me this.”

and he relents, because he’d do anything for you. even go as far as breaking your heart, only to come back to check up on you.

he lets you cry, because he felt the same way about you. longing for someone he already has but is on the verge of losing.

you reach out to take the napkin and wipe your tears, only to notice familiar scrawl on it.

that napkin has jeonghan’s new phone number on it.

—

now the question is, who do you choose?

—

a/n: TUMBLR STOP CORRECTING JEONGHAN TO JOE GHANA AND SEUNGCHEOL TO SEEING HELL THIS IS NOT VERY CUTESY OF YOU !!

taglist: @sousydive @dreamingofpcy @junplusone — wanna join my taglist?

[dioslesbianwife]

Hi

I really love your head canons

I wanted to ask if you could do a headcanon with the jofoes and a female reader who has a powerful stand yet is an absolute nervous wreck?

Yess of course- hope you enjoy and thank you for requesting!!

Dio

At first, he thinks you’re faking it—how can someone with this much power be so nervous?

"You could level cities, yet you tremble over a casual conversation?" He’s both amused and frustrated.

If someone else makes you nervous or uncomfortable? They’re gone. Instantly.

He’ll push you to embrace your power- whether through lecturing or encouragement depends on his mood.

Kars

He sees you as a fascinating contradiction, a force of destruction in the body of an anxious human.

He’ll test you, watching how you handle stressful situations. If you panic he steps in, because it amuses him.

"If you fear your power, you will never master it. And that is a waste."

Surprisingly patient, but he expects you to improve. He refuses to associate with "weaklings" (even if you aren’t weak at all).

Esidisi

Initially, he thinks your nervousness is a sign of weakness, and he hates wasted potential.

"You possess an ability that could make kings kneel, yet you tremble like a frightened child? Unacceptable." 

However, when he sees you struggling to control your power, he realizes you aren’t weak—just held back by your own mind.

That’s when he shifts tactics. Instead of berating you, he teaches you how to channel your emotions into strength.

Wamuu

He respects strength, but he respects control even more, so seeing you with immense power but no confidence? He’s intrigued.

He becomes an unofficial mentor, helping you learn how to manage both your abilities and your anxieties.

"Your fear does not define you. Only your actions do."

He never mocks you for your nervousness. Instead, he will calmly guide you through it.

Genuinely proud when you stand your ground, even if it’s a small step.

Kira

At first, your nervous energy annoys him. He dislikes unnecessary stress. Why fret when you could simply exist peacefully? 

Once he comes to understand you more, instead of pushing you aggressively, he coaches you in a calm, methodical way.

"If you fear the consequences, then eliminate the possibility of them. Precision over panic. A clean kill leaves no loose ends."

If you still struggle, he might subtly help you. Maybe he ensures an enemy "disappears" before they can stress you further.

Diavolo

Extremely impatient with your nervousness. "You are powerful. Act like it."

He cannot handle indecisiveness, so if you hesitate during battle, he forces your hand.

Your instability and nervousness remind him of Doppio.

Doppio, however, worries about you. He tries to encourage you without being harsh, unlike Diavolo.

If you ever manage to stand up to him despite your nerves, you instantly earn his respect.

Doppio

He relates to you. He’s almost constantly nervous, too!

The difference is that he’s used to pushing through his anxiety, so he tries to help you do the same.

"I get nervous too, but, uh… you’re way stronger than me! You got this!"

If anyone tries to mock you for being anxious, Doppio suddenly gets terrifyingly serious.

Genuinely supports you but also sometimes makes your anxiety worse.

Pucci

He believes your nervousness is a flaw that must be corrected.

"God does not bestow power upon the weak. You are not weak. Do not act like it."

Patient, but only to a point- he expects you to grow past your insecurities.

If you rely on him for comfort, he will give it… in the form of scripture and philosophy.

However, if someone else tries to take advantage of your anxiety? They will suffer divine retribution.

Funny Valentine

He views your nervousness as a potential advantage. people will underestimate you.

"A trembling hand can still hold power."

Extremely protective if anyone tries to manipulate or mock you.

If your anxiety hinders his goals, he will train you out of it through calculated exposure.

But if you use your power well despite your nerves? He has immense respect for you.

Diego Brando

Loses patience fast if your anxiety ever slows things down.

"You have all this power, yet you stutter like a scared child?"

However… if anyone else criticizes you, suddenly he’s defending you. Only he gets to call you an anxious mess.

If you ever manage to use your power confidently, he will pretend not to care but he absolutely does.

Loves when you’re flustered. Purposely makes you nervous just to watch you trip over your words.

Tooru

At first, he thinks your nervousness is cute. Like, really cute. The way you hesitate, the way your hands shake- he eats that up. 

“Do you need me to hold your hand? I wouldn’t mind, y'know." 

He never outright dismisses you, but he does poke fun at your anxiety because he finds it endearing. 

"You know, hesitation can get you killed. I’d hate for that to happen. That'd be... really sad." (Translation: He would, in fact, hate that.)

[snailsgoingdowntown]

Small idea thing may or may not be canon to my story

Yan! Dion agriche x fem! Reader

Arranged marriage

Warnings: slightly implied slight codependent behavior, jealousy, mention of murder attempt(s), mention of past murder, toxic familial (?)relationships, toxic marriage/relationship, some yandere themes probably. Please tell me if I missed any.

NSFW kind of warnings: suggestive and implied dub-con-ish, and definitely a sexually frustrated Dion

Can be read as it's own thing not sure if I'll include this in main story so POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR 'HELP I REINCARNATED AS THE FEMALE LEAD'S SISTER-IN-LAW"

MINORS/BLANK BLOGS/BLOGS THAT DON'T INTERACT WITH FANDOM RELATED THINGS DNI

I couldn't get this out of my head and I just needed to share it so bad it was eating me up alive.

==

Lowkey think Roxana would pour affection (platonic) at you just to annoy Dion aka small bouts of revenge once she realizes he has a soft spot for you (aka stealing your time, smiling sweetly at you, maybe even make physical contact via pushing your hair back or the very rare looping her arm around yours as you walk in the garden together. Inviting you to dinner sometimes when Dion returns from a mission, getting in his way of his own little goal of spending time with you. Basically becomes your 'bestie' (she denies she cares about you but we all know that's a lie) and enjoys the glares Dion sends her way whenever you're having fun with her and not him.

And truthfully, despite knowing she's using you for something, you enjoy her company after a while. However, you're unable to fully give in and become essentially a sister to her or a 'bestie' because at the end of the day, she is still Roxana Agriche, an Agriche and general and you genuinely cannot see yourself becoming an important person to her or anyone else, still thinking everything is a test to see if they should dispose of you or not.

And while you're aware your husband has a 'thing' for you or even 'love's' you, he's still an imposing figure, still a man who didn't blink twice at killing his own half-brother and would gladly kill one of his step-mothers just to see Roxana cry. So, really, despite your smiles directed at the blond and your sparse forms of 'affection' to your husband, you don't really accept what they show you. Because at the end of the day, you grew up in two very different environments and you are not meant to be here. Your definition of 'love' is vastly different from their own and while Roxana knows how healthy 'love' is supposed to be, it's been so long since she's received it properly. Meanwhile Dion has a hard time understanding it still.

The story has been changed enough. And you're not sure if it should change some more.

And maybe it's because of that you unknowingly refuse to see just how soft Dion Agriche is with others (no where by much, just by like 00.6% since they're not you. ) had become ever since you entered the scene. Because if you acknowledge it then you'll start to see him as a decent person - everything he is not.

Also Jeremy would literally crash any alone time you have with Dion out of both spite for him (he's too weak to fight him just yet + Roxana probably doesn't want them to fight and he's her #2 fan - Cassis takes 1st place and you 3rd.) And some werid younger brother like affection he has for you.

And Dion would definitely steal you away once the opportunity arises and if they were normal siblings he would stick his tongue out at Roxana but since they're traumatized af they just glare at each other so sharply it could cut skin. Proceeds to awkwardly show you affection that both makes you uncomfortable and feel some pity for him because damn, Maria and Lant are horrible parents. If he acts nice enough he might get a kiss on the cheek before you scamper away otherwise (from experience) a make out session you really shouldn't enjoy breaks out but he still gets cock blocked by someone OR you stop him once his fingers start to undo the strings on your dress or his kisses travel to your neck instead, and his excitement is very much noticeable via his actions and the budge in his pants he doesn't even bother trying to hide. Sure, he's very attractive. However, pushing the fact you're still wary and/or 100-80% scared of him aside, he's big and it hurt badly the first time and you really, really like having working reproductive parts and the ability to walk + your gut tells you that there's a chance he won't stop at one (1) round.

Every night you stay up questioning if you're actually in a coma and not reincarnated.

After all, why else would these people concern themselves with you? Why else would they start to get closer to you? Why else would Dion Agriche proclaim that he's your dog?

[quiinncherie]

Yes, Merlin is morally gray and definitely had horrible decisions but she’s not the most evil being to walk the universe like some people paint her to be.

Listen, I’m not denying Merlin is selfish but why does the whole fandom keep ignoring the fact that she genuinely loves knowledge to the point of obsession (stopping her own time so there would be no limit for her to continue exploring knowledge) and reduce her whole motive to just “being unable to handle a rejection”? Ok, she had a crush on Meliodas (puppy love typa thing let’s be honest) and since she also loves/cannot hate Elizabeth (and this proves she doesn’t have a love brain like y’all want her to), she chose to immerse herself in knowledge, a healthy coping mechanism if ya ask me. Then she found out about chaos and started looking into it. By the point the events in the manga happened, she had already invested 3000 years into uncovering chaos. Now imagine you start a passion project that grows way out of hand, and you have spent too many years to just quit and not get the results. This is what Merlin meant when she said “too late” in my opinion (partly this and partly that she wished she had had someone like Escanor 3000 years ago when she was so hungry for dedicated affection). Merlin is the sin of Gluttony for a reason. Greed is wanting more; gluttony is overconsuming, overindulgence to the point of self destruction. Her actions are always one part cold pragmatism and one part sentimental. It’s cold when she said Escanor was an intriguing test subject. But then she did an incredibly sentimental thing by giving him a kiss, scarring herself permanently as a memorial to him so Escanor is carved into her very skin and she would always remember him whilst people jeered at her for “wasting a pretty face”.

Now onto the next part that I think people are too hard on her for, just slow down and put yourself in Merlin’s shoes. So she helped this guy, and she looked like the only female figure who has ever shown him kindness. Wouldn’t Merlin think she might just be an alive version of Rosa to him? Escanor was probably aware of this, which is why he said “I have always loved you. And I know it's not only because you remind me so much of Rosa”. And seeing how many of y’all keep refusing that it’s Merlin who was with Escanor in chapter 192 but Rosa instead (which is dumb bc only Merlin has that mole and the Japanese text literally says “Merlin”) shows how real this concern is. I love Escalin and I think they should get married, but she is not inclined to return his feelings.

Yes, Escanor wrote many many many poems dedicated to her, and all of the words show how much he worshiped her. But this is bad, because then Merlin wouldn’t think he genuinely loves her (until his confession I reckon, you could see the surprise in her eyes when she realized just how forgiving his love is) and that he was probably mistaking savior worshiping for love. Just look at how Escanor described Merlin, sounds a bit too perfect and um well not exactly accurate:

Her being kind is debatable I guess since she was kinda always nice to him (which proves she did care about him btw)

But cheerful?? Does this mean Merlin smile more in front of Escanor?

It’s a shame really. I wonder what could have gone differently if Escanor had confessed his deep feelings for her sooner, maybe even back when they weren’t wanted criminals yet. Maybe he wouldn’t have become collateral damage to her plans. I hate how the anime portrayed their farewell kiss, the manga did it so much better. I’m not a big fan of how emotionless she is in the anime compared to the melancholy and the sinking realization that she couldn’t back down anymore. How her eyes looked so sad in the manga but the anime missed the mark completely.

Another harsh assumption is that Merlin tried to kill Elizabeth. No, she can teleport Elizabeth quick enough there won’t be a scrape. Reactivating her curse sounds extreme but even if Merlin hadn’t done it, Elizabeth would probably still encounter some near-death experience in purgatory and that would reactive her curse too (still don’t really get how this works as some said Merlin needs to have the power equivalent to a god to reactivate her curse? But personally I think Merlin managed to do it because the demon king isn’t dead yet). And also the curse required Meliodas to “watch” her die so technically since he wasn’t watching, Elizabeth wouldn’t die.

Anyway, Merlin is selfish and I still love her. God forbid a woman has hobbies (literally lol).

Ya know in retrospect, Merlin bringing Escanor back is a perfect example of her gluttonous side where she doesn’t want to lose the very person who loves her unconditionally despite everything.

[knickynoo]

Well, I was sufficiently enabled for the idea, so here it is: ✨Alex P. Keaton's Top Neurodivergent Moments✨

The funny thing is that the amount of time I put into scrolling through my encyclopedic mental inventory of Family Ties scenes, compiling these moments in a list, making gifs, and finding past gifsets/analysis to link back to makes creating this post one of my most neurodivergent moments. Good for me.

These will be organized by season (easier for me than trying to rank on a scale) and are in no way ALL of the moments. I'd need like...15 posts for that. Also, tumblr only allows 30 images/gifs per post, so I'm going to include links to past posts when possible.

ENJOY!

• Alex gets his first-ever failing grade and immediately decides to quit school

Exactly what it says. Alex strolls into college all bright-eyed and confident and ends up a broken shell of a guy just a week or so later. The prototypical Gifted Kid from the moment he learned to speak, Alex cannot handle anything less than perfection. Getting the first F of his life shatters his entire self-image, and he wants to drop out of college entirely.

• Alex's friend Doug announces he's getting married, and Alex spirals into despair. As one does.

The entirety of the "Best Man" episode is one big Alex displaying neurodivergent behaviors moment, honestly. There are a whole lot of Alex-centered plots that are set into motion because A Change happens, and he just cannot deal with it, and this is one of the best examples. Alex is so distraught at the suddenly altered dynamic that he wanders the house like a lost soul—sad and confused and needy. He walks in on Steven's shower just to give him a hug, offers to go shopping with Mal and play dolls with Jen, and also draws up a seven-year contract for his other friends to sign to ensure they stick to their regularly scheduled card games, lest they also run off to get married and destroy his life.

• Alex P. Keaton: child development expert

When faced with the news of another sibling on the way, Alex has some very nurturing advice at the ready for when the baby is crying.

• The Keatons all laugh at a funny story. Alex is not amused.

This is one of my favorite Alex scenes of the series. Uncle Rob shares a memory of the time Steven was young and got in trouble because he started rebelling against the system and refused to write his name in the designated spot on his school test papers. The family shares a hearty laugh. Alex, king of black-and-white thinking and lover of rules, is deeply upset.

I love him so much. He genuinely cannot see how they're enjoying such a story. The Name Spot is for names. And his father dared to write in the Not For Names Spot?? Jail for Steven.

He's so ridiculously autistic.

• Alex's favorite childhood toy

It was a cardboard box. I can't quite put into words why this sets off my ND radar, but it does. Maybe it's the being attached to unusual items thing that's common with autism? The intense fixations that make other people go ????

The Alex and Ba-ba plotline provides some wonderful Alex Lore.

• Mr. Mustache

Yeah, those intense fixations? In the "Fool for Love" episode, Alex grows a mustache and legitimately cannot speak about anything else for the several days that follow. He's asked to present a speech at Mallory's homecoming dance and centers his entire speech around his mustache. He's unable to have a conversation that doesn't involve mustaches. It's incredible.

• Everything in "Matchmaker"

Alex is so sweet in this one. After Mallory comes home crying after a bad date, Alex promises to help her find a great guy. Unfortunately, putting someone who struggles socially and with processing emotions in charge of your love life isn't exactly a great fit. Alex uses the power of science to craft a formula to find Mallory's perfect match (he isn't), then tags along on their date and helps foster a very natural environment (it isn't) for the relationship to flourish (it doesn't).

The episode ends with a great scene between Alex and Mallory that shows just how well Mal understands the inner-workings of her big brother's head.

• Divorce is tough. Alex has some advice.

The Keaton kids are shocked to learn that their Uncle Rob is divorcing their Aunt Maureen. As Jen and Mallory reel from the information, Alex helps to reframe things.

He then pulls out the Special Interest Card and compares the divorce of their aunt and uncle to a "failed merger, not unlike the breakup of the phone company—although obviously less emotional. Nothing more than a natural fluctuation in the marketplace of love and marriage."

And the thing is, he IS impacted by the news. He just hasn't the slightest clue how to actually process it. So, a simple failed merger it is!

• You had one job

Mallory needs some croissants for a fancy get-together she's having with her poetry class. Alex helpfully offers to go pick them up.

Now, I debated about this one because there's part of me that's like, "Hmm, did Alex purposely do this to annoy Mallory?" Is this just a jerk move? But you know what? It stays on the list because the whole "I personally don't like this thing and struggle to see how anyone else could. Therefore, I will get the thing I like" is (for me) a relatable aspect of being ND.

• Every single second of "A, My Name is Alex"

For real, though. This episode is a deep dive into how Alex became the person he is, and it is FILLED with "flashbacks" of an intensely neurodivergent child whose issues were made worse by the people around him. (Mostly teachers and peers. Steven and Elyse did their best with him, but I do also have some critiques of the way they parented him). Anyway, he represses his emotions to the point of a meltdown

And then there's this

Full coin gifset here. Also, I made posts on the full episode, which can be found here and here.

• "Alex has a weird body"

That's Mallory's explanation to Andy as to why Alex can't help her when she needs someone to model one of her latest clothing creations. She says Alex's head is too big for his body, and those words, unfortunately, find their way back to him. In a mini plot reminiscent of the mustache one, Alex proceeds to obsess over the comment.

And I mean, I think being told your head is too big for your body would make anyone insecure, but it's the way Alex handles it. He's unable to have regular conversations for a while because he can't stop fixating on the size of his noggin'.

Both of the "Read it and Weep" episodes fit in this list, to be honest

• An accurate statement by Lauren

I've got to include this because it really does neatly condense a lot of who Alex is

So true, bestie.

And then, to wrap this whole thing up, there's all of this

And this is just what I can fit in this here post without going over the limit lol. Obsessed with the way MJF played Alex.

Thanks for reading ✌️

This is me with Alex, btw

[jnnul]

THE GF NING DRABBLE WAS SOOOO CUTEEEEE !! okay okay this is slightly irrelevant but what about dating k 🥺 i think he'd be the sweetest everrrrr :( - hype boy anon

a/n: oh don't worry anon i'll talk about my husband (real) all day any day <33 word count: 889 words genres: fluff + nsfw content

so koga yudai is a THE pretty princess of the century

like i hate to break it to you

but he is the princess of the relationship

since he's usually the oldest/one of the oldest members of a team wherever he goes, he likes being doted on

he likes being the center of your universe

he likes when you have heart eyes for him, when you back hug him after a long day, when you declare your love for him, etc.

HOWEVER

it is simply in his nature to be a loverboy he can't help it

so as much as he loves princess treatment, he naturally takes care of you anyway in more subtle ways

like if you're the one who's initiating pda or hugging him when you guys are around people, he'll shy away a little more

but in confined spaces, he literally clings to you and WILL NOT let go

he's a closeted princess <3

but because of this, no one believes you when you say that he's clingier than you

because he loves when you fawn over him

but the second you guys get home, he's all over you

he really releases all of his babygirlism™️ when it's just the two of you (he can't be losing all of his carefully accumulated street cred that easily)

the KING of back hugs whenever he can

you could be just standing in any situation and suddenly, you're wrapped in koga yudai

genuinely any situation he can have his hands on you (in private), his hands will be there

as much as he does it because he loves you and he thinks you're the sexiest being to grace the earth

it's also because he can't make you his priority number 1 and the guilt eats him up

k's been working for his dreams for SO long and now that they're slowly finally coming to life, he always gives them priority

so last minute cancellations or having to plan time together weeks in advance is smth that you'd have to just be ok with

he also always encourages you to pursue your dreams tho

in his rare time off, he spends it with you and will literally bend over backwards to help his s/o continue to grow in whatever field they want to

you want to become a doctor? he will quiz you about whatever subject you have a test in text week. you want to become an engineer? he's sitting with you and providing massages as you try and figure out the question. you want to be a teacher? he patiently sits with you as you practice your lesson plans.

knows that he has a s/o that's very patient and puts up with a lot more from him (namely, his dramatics) than anyone else so spoils you rotten

of course in physical touch and sharing your passion for whatever you're interested in, but also gifts

he will buy anything and everything that reminds him of you in the slightest (anything pretty)

it's his way of coping when he spends a long time away from you

[NSFW CONTENT BELOW]

his other way of coping is phone sex 😭

k is a very visual person so he really needs to see you to get off

and i mean that literally

once you guys have sex for the first time (which would be so sweet because this boy just loves you so so much)

he genuinely cannot get off without you

needs you in some way, shape, or form to cum and while some people think it's weird, you think it's peak romance <3

is a switch but i think more dom leaning

he's more used to having more control, experience, power, etc. so he slips into the role pretty easily

he enjoys seeing you all drooly and fucked out for him so it works out

has an INCREDIBLE level of stamina

i mean it so literally that when you guys fuck after a long time of not seeing each other, it's all day and all night

like calling off of work the next day and everything

doesn't really like hurting you with words or pain

but he does like seeing you overwhelmed with pleasure

top 10 dick game out of everyone in kpop

but to get there, he will make you cum at least 2 times before he even sticks his dick inside

big dick energy

probably has to make you cum at least 2 times so that you're wet enough to fit him inside of you

will overwhelm you with pleasure whether you're the sub or dom tho

he can't help it :(

when he's subbing, he's like an overexcited puppy

and he can't help but fucking into you even after you tell him to stop

he just finds you so so so attractive and can't believe that you like him of all people

doesn't believe you in aftercare when you tell it was good

or that you're so happy you're with him in general

will just smile and clean you up gently in the shower

he only believes you truly love him when you're cuddled up next to him and even when you're dead asleep, you smile when you smell his perfume

after a long day at work

he's so sweet :( omg i want him so bad :(

[chainoftalent]

ANYWAYS, I remember ur one post talking about kokichi using chess as a matter of punishment (genuinely one of the most unique and character personal I've ever heard ever omg)

And as someone who personally reads yandere fanfiction because I like reading character reactions I got thinking.

How would he deal with a recently captured darling having no experience in chess (bonus points if they hate it bc they are bad) beating him in only a couple days and learning to outsmart him out of pure sheer will hating to be controlled revealing that they are actually really smart but just need to drive and motivation to use it.

Anyways <3 u with boundaries

I love getting to talk about stuff like this so I'm sending a heart right back <3 with boundaries. it's so neat huh!

Kokichi with a darling who beats them in chess after quick rapid improvement

The chess metaphor of "im better strategist, i know this more, you cannot beat me" he does as a punishment is one of my FAVORITES ive come up with because it's just so...kokichi! its completely harmless, he's not forcing you to keep playing, and the metaphor is so clear. It's the perfect way to start placing cracks into someone's morale or resistance without ever needing to do anything to them besides beat them in a game over and over.

Plus, he isn't upset when they start to improve because he wants them to improve. Them improving is a sign of them focusing on things other then escape to try and prove a point that actually doesn't mean much. Along with it as a sign that he is helping them grow more aware and strategic, that they are better off with him. Kokichi doesn't want someone helpless who never grows, Kokichi wants to prove himself as well as a leader against your resistance.

I would imagine only a small number of members have ever been able to get real good at chess enough to beat him more then once or twice every dozen games. So at such rapid improvement Kokichi is very charmed actually, he wasn't expecting someone to be able to push against him so soon! It shows both how impressive his darling is, and how he was the one who gave them what they needed to sharpen their mind and embrace that potential.

First loss he laughs and looks delighted, teases about how they grew up real fast huh? Guess there's no need to go easy on them! Which is a half lie, Kokichi was going easy, but it was less about giving them a chance to win kind of easy, and more trying to draw out the game to last longer to really hammer in those feelings of helplessness and being outsmarted. He's testing to see if this was a fluke in actuality though.

After losing once though he takes the game much more seriously, moving the game along much faster, no longer making a show of hemming or hawwing or taking time making a move, he's truly showing off his grandmaster skill in the game to it's fullest. Even with a sharp boost it wouldn't surprise me if their darling loses next round just because they weren't expecting it.

However, once they realize the new speed of the game if they can keep up pretty well still, trading back and forth wins, I would imagine Kokichi would shut up about all the manipulation after they keep being evenly matched so he could better focus on the game. He's completely forgotten the punishment part he's just gleeful to have a good game!

He is going to keep raising the stakes though, make the game harder in other ways. Bring in those chess timers and stuff because they've gotten good, but can they really keep up?

Definitely introduces them to fairy chess and the other weird chess pieces or boards with unusual placements or other game modes like Crazyhouse. Might even drag in one of the other dice members for three or four person chess.

Very much cultivating an aura of "you're good, but you're still not the best" both because he's having a lot of fun and because it still keeps them distracted on chess and not like, more practical uses of gaining resources or information for escapes.

After a bit of that he might start to get a bit bored of chess, too much chess, needs a chess break and needs to better assert himself. He's going to bring other games after that. He is setting up Jenga and he is going to make fun of them for having shaky hands pulling out a block. He is pulling out games like Go, Milk Puzzles, Shogi, Risk.

He wants to see if they can get good at these games too, while also flexing about how many games he's mastered and how each one further shows a skill they are lesser then him at. He really wants to keep them distracted in proving a philosophical point then working on an actual tangible escape plan.

Plus maybe even he can use this as a point of connection, engages them in the rivalry more, plays it up, wants to make sure they have fun. Maybe even tries to get them to want to stay because they can't just leave it off on Kokichi having the last win! Kokichi wants that point of humanizing connection of him being fun and a rival to win subconscious favor. Make them stop seeing him as "Kokichi, captor" but "Kokichi, rival" which gives him a lot more space to maneuver

Though he might also be adding subtle extra guards against their escapes, adds a few more locks, puts a few more people on guard duty, adds a tripwire or two. He sees what they are capable of and while he won't address it out loud super much just yet, he is taking them more seriously in private.

Basically he's very thrilled about having someone who can be a challenge, but also has super awoken his more competitive side. He does gain quite a bit of respect for them though for pulling this off, even if he shows it in unusual ways. He will add to the security in subtle ways, just to be safe, but mostly he just wants to bring them to DICE game nights so so bad.

[batwritings]

Hii, I hope you're doing well! Can I please ask for headcannons for the brothers and dateables (if not everyone, you can choose, but please write for Lucifer, mammon and barbatos) would react if MC offers to put chapstick on their lips.

I know it's a strange ask, but imagine this scenario: It's gotten really cold suddenly (in? On? At?) the devildom and MC notices said character has chapped lips and seems very uncomfortable with it. She offers them her (can be gn!reader but I'm using she/her for better explaining) chapstick and they deny, but she insistist in putting on them, and they feel giddy because she's caring so softly for them 😭😭😭

I in the vibe of soft casual love, stay warm and hydrated 🫶🩷🩷🩷🩷

I don't think this is strange at all! Soft caring actions like that are honestly cute as fuck to me. Enjoy!~

Lucifer The absolute quickest to deny you. The great and powerful Lucifer? Receiving a smidgen of help??? The greatest travesty in all the realms, clearly. But bat your eyes and maybe bring him some Demonus and he might crack. Once you get it on, he didn't realize just how badly his lips were chapped. You'll be offered a small thanks, and a promise of something more substantial for a reward once he has more free time.

Mammon How could the cold affect the great Mammon so much? He simply didn't believe you at first. Fun fact, he knew damn well his lips were chapped as fuck. He just really didn't want to admit he needed the help. Simply subdue him with a kiss after putting on the chap stick and he'll be a puddle of grimm in your hands.

Leviathan <Insert MC doing the inhale "BOI" meme here> Being a shut-in means Levi doesn't exactly get out into the cold much. Therefor, he's a little more susceptible to the effects of the cold than his brothers. One trip to get a new Ruri-chan figurine and he's got chapped lips for days. Thankfully he has you to thoughtfully apply chapstick to his lips which leaves him with a persistent blush every time the two of you cross paths.

Satan Oh? It honestly hadn't crossed his mind. While he's no Asmo, Satan does take pretty good care of himself. He's actually the most lenient of the brothers in letting you help. If this were the Nightbringer universe, he's fight you a bit more. Yet the wrestle session would be a nice release for his anger, even if he couldn't go full force on you. He'd thank you by letting you put the chapstick on, blushing in denial of enjoying the attention.

Asmodeus Asmo, sweetheart, darling, you can't use lip gloss as chapstick, I'm sorry. And that'll be his excuse, mark my words! You have to explain to him that sadly, most gloss doesn't cover the chapping and he'll be more than amenable to let you put it on him. In true Asmo-chan fashion, of course he'll need to test it on you, just to be sure. A reward for helping him always look beautiful.

Beelzebub This man's gonna try to eat the chapstick, and no, you cannot convince me otherwise. You know how people see a big animal and go "if not friend, why friend shaped"? Beel, sweet himbo lad that he is will legit ask you, "if not food, why food smelling?". Did you have to reapply it multiple times because he kept licking it off? Yes. Did he complain to you every time that it didn't taste nearly as good as it smelled? Also yes. Did he learn his lesson? Nope!

Belphegor He spends ONE (1) NIGHT up in the observatory and ends up with chapped lips. It's rather annoying to him, and he genuinely doesn't hear you the first few times when you offer to put chapstick on for him. Belphie will deny it at first purely on the basis of "I'm not a little kid just because I'm the youngest". Just wait til he gets too tired to fight you on it and you'll get a mumbled little "thank you" before becoming his favorite pillow. Hope you have nothing to do for the next few hours.

Solomon Unsurprisingly enough, it wasn't the cold that got him! It was a spell gone wrong in trying to make a chapstick that would never let your lips chap again. Solomon sighs very defeatedly and sits back with a pout as he lets you put the balm on his lips. For practice purposes, he has you sit down and look over the ingredients to see where he went wrong. May or may not purposefully mess it up again to have you so close again.

Simeon You can't tell me this man wouldn't absentmindedly pick at the chapped parts of his lips. He can't be perfect forever ya'll, he's gotta be a little weird like the rest of us. (/j) You actually catch him in the act which makes Simeon fluster and admit to forgetting his chapstick in his room. His denial of attention and care for you is half-hearted and he very quickly crumbles at the chance to be so close to you. Maybe he'll have to forget his chapstick more often.

Barbatos This man is far too busy to realize his lips were chapped. It was one of those rare instances that you two crossed paths that you noticed and offered to put some on for him. In another rare instance, you notice Barbatos blush slightly because he didn't realize he'd looked so out of sorts. He had meetings with Lord Diavolo later that day as well, so yes! Please! Quickly! You make sure to add a generous amount in the hopes that it would last him through his meetings.

Diavolo His lips were chapped? Truly? It's only then that the demon lord to be realizes how absolutely flooded he'd been and that Barbatos had even told him about that earlier in the day. When you offer, Diavolo tries to politely decline, asking you not to waste what you have on him. It only takes a few minutes of remembering how busy he'll be and how this is absolutely a chance to know even a smidgen more info about you that he relents and lets you apply it gingerly to his lips.

[ga-lily-o]

Cooking with a Special Puppet Headcanons

P x (gn) Reader

Warnings/Tags: General game spoilers ofc, Sophia exhibiting the symptoms of an ED but there is a genuine canon Lore Reason I do not want to spoil sorry, P is a silly lil guy (affectionate), Gemini is a silly little guy (derogatory)

A/N: I miss taking culinary classes, so I coped by making this!! This was also an excuse to test out my new silly borders hehe

The first time you bring P into the kitchen, he accidentally makes a huge mess and feels so bad he starts avoiding the kitchen. If he needed you while you were in there, he’ll wait by the door until you come out even if it takes hours

It takes a lot of encouragement and patience to finally get him back in the kitchen, and even then he’s so careful of everything around him. It doesn’t always go well, and most of the time there’s still some accident that leaves a giant mess to clean up

It’s like watching a dragon in a china shop— every so often he catches on something and oh! Down comes all the pots and pans.

Gemini finds it hilarious but while he loves messing with P, he is also the one to tell him not to push it if he’s so stressed out and to take it little by little

P so sweet, he’s so caring and careful and yeah ok he can be mischievous but not in the sense that he’d purposefully make trouble for the people he cares for

In fact he tries to help you out by bringing around food for all the residents in the Hotel so you don’t have to do everything

Polendina takes Antonia’s meals to her and Pulcinella forces Venigni to actually eat when he forgets to

It’s very funny to watch, because as stubborn and eccentric as Venigni can be he cannot say no to his no. 1 bestie

Eugenié is silly and has to be reminded to eat (she gets too absorbed into her work), and Sophia usually refuses food. It’s worrying, but she says it’s alright and vaguely explains that she doesn’t need food 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨

As the days go by and as he becomes more human and is able to control his strength better, he finally musters up the courage to ask you to teach him how to cook (which Gemini insists on being present for)

The first few times he is so shaky and afraid of everything in case it breaks, but after a few days he’ll start getting comfortable with the utensils and tools

Once he’s comfortable enough, he starts acting out small mischiefs and well

It’s hard to scold him when he’s finally overcome his fear of making a mess

“And then you carefully— No—“ The egg splats against the counter in seconds, spraying up to his freckled face. He pulls his hand up slowly, and with the most amused deadpan you’ve seen on him, turns his yolk-soaked palm to you. You don’t even fight the frown that settles on your face as Gemini coughs to hide a laugh.

“Nice one! I think—“ cough “— you’re getting better,” He says. You glare at him where P’s put him on the counter, and he laughs harder. You would strangle him, but that would probably just encourage the prick.

P looks innocently at you; his expression unchanging but a tilt in his shoulder gives away the fact that he knows what he’s doing. You’re sure that if he could laugh, he would be giggling in all his freckled cuteness. It softens your frown into fond exasperation as you reach a hand to wipe the egg off his face. He takes his clean legion hand and gently places it atop yours, pushing his cheek flush against your palm.

“Gemini is such a bad influence on you,” You say with a no heat in your voice. P looks up at you though his lashes, and you can almost see the mischief printed on his face.

“How am I a bad influence?” Gemini says indignantly, having the gall to sound offended.

You dip your hand into the bag of flour nearby, scoop out a handful, and throw it at him. He sputters and yelps, starting to complain. You’re too distracted by Gemini to notice the curious way P’s looking over at you and the bag of flour. He quietly slips his legion hand behind you when you move forward as your argument with Gemini progresses.

“That was actually so rude,“ Gemini says.

“Oh like you aren’t the one enabling him all the time.“

“When have I ever?”

“I don’t know— the art shop, for one?”

“That was such a long time ago!”

“Two days—!”

Flour hits your cheek, dusting your face in white. Gemini gets a second to laugh at you, before flour also hits him and his lamp topples over right into spilled egg. A bit away from you both, P is standing with his hands behind his back and the bag of flour peeking out from behind him. His face is twitching like it’s trying to smile, and you feel your heart melt at the sight. By the end of the day, you’re just glad the kitchen’s still standing.

[arrowfortea-moved]

your integrity makes me seem small, you paint dreamscapes on the wall (da:i solavellan oneshot)

basically: post-haven pining from a touch-starved grouchily-in-denial solas. plus fade dreamscape stuff. plus "uh-oh is the anchor brainwashing her" anxiety, plus "i do not comprehend mortal's emotions" anxiety. rating: a thirsty T (16+) words: 5.1k (complete, oneshot) content warnings: none! spoiler-free for veilguard; it's written with theories circa da: i in mind.

"Can I shape the clouds?" she asks, drumming her fingers against her clavicle. "I can only change whether they’re... there." "That is a question I cannot answer," he replies, pulling the Anchor closer. "The limits of your will are yours to test, not mine to declare." As Elanna returns to her musing, Solas allows the leash of his self-control some slack. The verdant flickers beneath her skin disappear; the skin of her palm pales to a slake-lime white. Rather than a dagger-slit of a wound, the Anchor is the Breach, writ small. Rendered in sap green, pooling paler over time. The scent of its magic roils to a stench. Fen’harel’s magic, Solas’ magic, his magic, unstable and spoilt by its suspension in impurity.

☁️ read on ao3, or ↓

—

Magic does that. It wastes you away. Once it grips you by the ear, the real world gets quieter and quieter, until you can hardly hear it at all.                —Deathless, Catherynne M. Valente

—

Love has always sat in Solas wrong. Perhaps such was Mythal’s design—she could've bid his heart to spike its interior, and fit only her shape.

(Or he could've. He knows that.)

Elanna Lavellan is a quick-footed, narrow-boned waifish imitation of an elven woman, and Solas does not pay her any particular mind. Which must be how she managed to leap through the labyrinthine, trap-laden path to his heart, and slip in without his noticing. 

Now that he has noticed, it is only a matter of time before she must carve into one of them if she is to survive, and he suspects her endless questions are simply her determining where the knife should go; she never asks him the same question twice, she leaves implications for him to latch onto, her eyes map his face to measure his reaction to words, touches, silences. During their conversations, a dark, desirous something eventually begins to move around in his chest, and it’s her.

It must be. Elanna—Inquisitor Lavellan, he reminds himself—is adjusting in her hiding spot, trying to get comfortable, which she can’t, and trying to distract him from it, which she can’t. He knows what she's doing; she cannot have asked how to mix a lime suspension for orpiment because she genuinely wanted to know. Some days he wonders if he should let the cursed barbed thing slam shut around her and just see what happens, as he did in Hav—

I am not thinking of Haven.

Solas presses his shoulder against the threshold of her balcony, listening to her ideas about what she wants to do as a ‘Fade-walker’. I’ve’an’virelan, but she’d choke on her tongue before she got two syllables in, so he says nothing, and simply watches her prattle. Watches her check his reaction when she cites concepts he’s mentioned before. Watches her looking for his want, which she will not find; he’s had several millennia of practice in keeping things locked away.

Comparing her eye colour to pond scum helps. Slightly. The Fade pales her eyes for him, but she is still.. her. Appreciative. Imaginative. Gushing with excitement. 

Yapping, it is yapping. 

The Inquisitor yaps, and Solas does not care to listen.

No doubt she finds his nodding and mild noises to be unacceptable responses. She must've expected to see him on his knees by now. Solas, a village-born apostate elf that oversleeps, and the Dalish Herald of Andraste, paradoxically pious, for she is ever so open-minded, especially to the rambling flat-ear. Why would he not want her? 

She’s even been receptive to his delaying her with vagaries! One month ago, he requested ‘time to think’ right after having shoved his tongue down her throat like the starved madman he is; since then, platonic interactions are all they’ve had. Short enough to avoid the unbearable shifting in his chest. Inquisitor Lavellan will cut her deific affection into bite-sized pieces for the old man to chew! Why would he not want it? 

(Because it will lead to trouble. Because she and her affection for him will turn to dust soon enough; ideally the latter before the former. Because she is so beautiful, and he cannot be trusted with her.)

Because he does not trust her.

Not even in the Fade. Inquisitor Lavellan's spirit bristles with emotion no more than fuzz bristles upon a peach. In Arlathan they'd never see or hear a thing she did. She'd be less than a bug. So when that bug had buzzed into his dream, again, he’d insisted on returning to hers instead, because he had to know what her emotions felt like in her own dreams. Now that he knows the Inquisitor's excitement and awe and admiration all scatter across her dreamscape in much the same, dull way, like leaves on flagstone—he could leave.

But she just asked a question. Solas is near-incapable of ignoring those.

“Yes, in theory, I could turn the Frostback Mountains to grassland.” He clamps down on his bemusement; a hint of it may send her tumbling her off the balcony. “But if I did, they would soon distort. Unless you encounter spirits that can recall the mountains without snow upon them, if any exist. Otherwise, your memory would have the mountains would soon freeze over, or blur into any other field. Most pertinently, they are miles away; how would you reach them?”

“I’d thought.. by stepping off the edge,” she says, turning away from him. Quick as a flash, she sits up on the balustrade. “Would the air hold me, if I asked? Could I fly?”

“The answer lies in which you have more memories of. Flight, or falling.” 

She looks over her shoulder. “The birds in—”

“Inquisitor, you would shatter every bone in your body.”

A huff, then she turns away again.

He is left to glare at her hair. Her hair, swishing to her waist in waves, golden, and sparkling in the sunlight. In the torturous waking world, Solas cannot help idealising her, as one would a rose in a briar patch. Beautiful. Rare. Still, thorned. Such flickers of fancy are easily stamped out in the Fade. Distorting a shared dream without the other person aware is staunchly against his values, but enforcing reality is a different matter. (Paling her eyes is a harmless protection; if he stares, which he will, she will exploit it.)

Solas muffles his idle romanticism, bidding the Fade to do the same. It does, and the sparkle on Inquisitor Lavellan's hair winks out. 

Waist-length golden waves that merely shine in the sunlight. Solas needs to get out of here. Return to his dream of Skyhold’s library. Pick up ‘Meditations and Odes to Bees’ where he left off. Page 248.

“Say I did shatter every bone in my body,” the Inquisitor chirps, “would my bones follow me home? The shatter would happen.. in the physical realm?”

(On the tip of her tongue, he's sure, was 'the real world’, but she is pandering. This is all pandering.)

“No. It would happen here. And would hurt. If you mean to take my abilities, then take also my advice: do not try it.”

The Inquisitor spins to him and slides herself off of the balustrade; gaze wandering over his face. “But what if I did?” she asks.

Pond scum, he reminds the Fade, and her eyes shift from mossy to mucosal. “If you did, I would be most curious to see where your ambitions take you,” he replies, folding his arms. “Is that why you sought me, Inquisitor? Not to request verdant peaks, but rather, the means to rise above them?” 

“No. Just.. if I'm to ask the Fade’s Frostbacks for grass, despite their clear contentment with snow,” she says, with full sincerity, “I’d rather not offend them by asking poorly.” 

Solas pinches his brow. There were at least four assertions within that he ought to correct. I shall, he decides, tucking his hand back into his arms, tomorrow. It is far easier to condescend to her when they are awake; when the air is suffocating him, he can treat her presence like a roll-neck sweater that refuses to sit properly. In her dream, the air is vaporous, fragrant, as if they were..

The Fade trembles around him. 

I have no reason to believe that Inquisitor Lavellan knows what a bath is. Baths are best taken alone, with a divider around the tub. Two dividers, encircling it. In fact, I would be in the other roo—

“Solas? Hello?”

“Yes,” he says, startling. Shakily, he gestures behind him, then to the balcony. “Do you think you could offend that which belongs to you, as well? This is all yours. Turn it to a garden, and relax here.” 

Inquisitor Lavellan positively beams at him. Like allowing a child to handle a knife made for peeling apples, and agreeing they’re Andruil, he thinks, sagging. Maybe that is why he’s drawn to appease her curiosities; she is Dalish, yet treats him as worth listening to. He's gone too long without appreciation, seizes it, and mistakes gratification to be attraction.

“Cole once said grass doesn't mind anything." She lowers herself until she’s cross-legged. The muscles of her thighs must be—I am not thinking of her thighs. When she presses her hands to the stone, her eyebrows frown and pinch close; two wrist-flicks of gold paint. Her hair falls back over her face, lit like pale silk beneath a chandelier. “I was being too grandiose about what only wanted to grow.”

Solas bites the inside of his cheek. Gratification is the source of his attraction, and she is pandering to him, and her beauty is irrelevant.

After a few moments of her will vibrating the air, the balcony shimmers, shudders, and tints. Green. Green, in splotches. Green upon the stone. A lifetime spent in the wilds and as far as he can tell, Inquisitor Lavellan asked the Fade to shatter an acid flask for her.

“If a reference would be of help..” He flicks his hand. One cow’s bite worth of grass bounces up by her ankle. “I have no doubt you have seen more grass than most in Skyhold, but it is simpler with—”

The balcony bursts to pasture. 

“Ah. Commendable.” The same blades he’d provided, over and over and over. 

Elanna—Inquisitor Lavellan—musses through her personal meadow. “If fresco is an ancient elven art, and the ancient elves could all dream like this.. when thinking of how to affect the Fade.. is it similar to painting?”

“Not in the slightest,” he says, then inclines his head to the grass. “But you grasp the principles well enough.”

The Dalish have not created new vallaslin designs in thousands of years, little wonder she has such a small-mindedness towards art and—‘fresco’, it is tuast, he should’ve told Archivist Banon that, rather than allow Antivans to continue their linguistic massacre. As the Inquisitor languidly splays out, a thought eases over Solas’ grumbling: It was kind of her to ask. 

She is kind, and he is a grouch, avoiding his own feelings. If he does not, they may leak out and she will know he finds her beautiful. Which she is, by any measure; she must already know. Sunlight shimmering over her silver-silk jacket and trousers, hair spread out in verdure with snow-capped mountains beyond her. A few snowflakes drift down—

Fenedhis. Solas is not thinking of Haven. The flakes dissipate. 

“Thank you for helping me come here,” she says, gazing up at the sky. 

Solas stares at his dun-brown slippers, and continues kiting his memories of Haven—which are various, and most do not involve the woman in front of him—through his mind, for no particular reason.

“You would be here regardless,” he says mildly. “I only came when called. And ensured you remained on the balcony, rather than however far the fall might take you. If anyone encourages you otherwise, do inform Spymaster Leliana.”  

The Inquisitor lets out a long, descending whistle. “Thump, crack,” she coos. “I hope I’d wake.”

Little wonder that Cole gets along with her. Maybe she reminds Solas of Cole, and, as she's been flirtatious, he mistakes his platonic affection to be attraction, and that is the source of—no, the source of his attraction is that she is attractive. The denial is too obvious now, Solas can smell it as if it were dried sweat on his upper lip. He wipes it with his shoulder in case he actually has any. 

She shifts to look at him, crushing her soft hair beneath a streak of vallaslin. “How do I know you came? As in, Solas. How do I know you’re not a spirit?”

Skyhold’s wards bar spirits from crossing through the Fade. I would prefer you not ask how I came to this knowledge, nor dwell on the sudden and, I assure you, entirely unrelated lapse in my willingness to entertain inquiries.

“You don’t,” Solas replies. “If I were a spirit, would that trouble you?”

“Not if you told me. I’d only feel sorry you thought you had to trick me into spending time with you. Solas is who I’m forming a memory of right now. I’d rather that he actually.. be here for it.”

He pushes off from the doorway, and sits. “A thoughtful answer, but a misguided one. What do you think a spirit, visiting your dream, would be formed from?”

“The Fade reflects my mind,” she quotes, eyes darting between the few clouds above, “and 'a spirit is a purpose.'”

“Precisely. Say a spirit was shaped into the elf you call Solas, and sits before you now. Is his intent be Solas, or trick the Inquisitor? The former is far more likely, and were he doing the latter, he would not confess it. There would not be much of a trick if he did.”

She nods at the darkening sky. “Whoever you are, you can call me Elanna.”

Then comes the shifting in his chest again. “Elanna. For what it’s worth, you’re welcome to speak with me once we’re awake, and I’ll recount this conversation.” Solas pauses, insists to the Fade that nightfall should warm to dusk, then continues. “For now, you have no way to know who I truly am. It would be best to keep that in mind.”

“Solas. For what it’s worth,” she repeats, rolling onto her side, “what about desire demons?”

He props his right elbow on his knee, then his chin upon that hand. Then, allows her a smile.

“They are much the same,” he says, “their purpose is still not to trick you, least of all because you, Elanna, cannot be possessed. Their purpose is to be your desire. I am not a desire demon. I ask that you not treat me as one. One in my form would say that, unless your desire is a caricature of me, but all the same. Please don’t.”

Another nod. She holds his gaze. The dim light hides her freckles, but June’s marring of her remains stark; her vallaslin curves over her cheekbones, across her forehead, on her chin, the front of her throat.. the ritual must've taken hours. Solas holds the ache in his chest close, away from her thoughtful look. He could have the Fade depict her bare-faced.. but he should not meddle further. (Or have meddled at all.)

When she blinks, her eyes return to their natural green. “Thank you for this,” she says. “I’m fortunate to walk the Fade. I’d rather not misstep. Serannas.” How one addresses a beggar when you are politely declining them. At least the Dalish put it to sincere purpose. Even if they only salvaged serannas after discarding manners entirely.

“Ma neral. My pleasure,” he adds, after her confusion breezes over him. “Was there anything else?”

Elanna looks over. “Yes.” 

Anchor sparking and outstretched, she brushes the hand resting at his side. His eyes flutter closed. She laces their fingers together; he lets her, and lifts his hand for her—just to not go petulantly limp, just to be co-operative, just..  

It has been so long, Elanna. 

Millennia. A month. He’d been desperate to feel her against him, and he still is, for he wants more than the bowstring-nock on her thumb. It was upon his chin when he’d kissed her, and it is upon his finger now; her left thumb is all he’s felt from her beyond her dropping the Anchor into his hands for inspection each week—her left hand is all he’s received from her at all. When she'd kissed him, the peck was so light that, if she ever denies it happened, he'll be easily persuaded.

Her spirit seemed to radiate no feelings into his dream, hence his searching for them in the back of her throat. Yet nothing had crested over him from her. No lust or revelation, no joy. Even now, there is only a light fragrance in the air of.. unexpectant appreciation. Elanna is either far more restrained than he’s given her credit for, or she does not want him. Mortals are not all this delicate, he knows; is he delicate now?

Throughout uthenera he’d shared the Fade with other dreamers, and their dreamscapes all radiated intensity. Chaos. Wonder. Hers renders everything inconsequential. His own irritability dissipates the longer he lingers; even now, his frustrations over their first kiss are reduced to air. 

As she strokes his hand, the Fade supplies him with further sensations, embellishments, constant prickles skimming over him. He tries to stamp it out, he wants to feel her, but it may as well be a hoard of ants, teeming underfoot. 

“Your hand is so soft,” she says, each syllable soft as a petal, floating through the air. “Is this welcome?”  

Solas gently squeezes their laced fingers and lifts his fingertips to meet hers. “Yes, lethallan. I would stay like this. If you’d like.”

“Elanna, lethallin, remember?”

His chest aches. "Elanna."

Elanna navigated through to his heart with her typical grace, and seems unhurt thus far.. Unless she left, and that too occurred without his noticing.

Perhaps she did. Perhaps she isn’t in his heart. Elanna may not love him; he certainly cannot feel it. Contentment is the whiff on the wind. Perhaps it is love for her inside his heart. Solas may love her; he certainly cannot tell. Love is supposed to drench his insides and leave him gasping.

The grass brushes against his knees; fantasising and action must be separated carefully in the Fade, and he had been careless, again. His eyes open to see the ever-attentive Elanna, blissfully unaware. And his hand, held between both of hers, while she lays on her back. He’s kneeling beside her. There is no gust of satisfaction or pleasure, simply the dry pad of her finger, tracing the lines on his palm.

Perhaps he can let his feelings show in dreams. He could keep them to insignificance, as breath is upon glass or a lover or into freezing hands. Elanna once said she was interested in getting to know him. She will never, obviously; but in the Fade, perhaps he can present her a diffusion.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps; certainty seems excluded from the stolid flavour profile of Elanna’s dreamscape.

The Anchor sparks against his hand. Solas rests back on his ankles, pulling it with him. 

“May I examine it?” 

Because there is one thing he must be certain of.

“Of course.” Elanna sits up. “Is the Anchor still.. itself, when I'm dreaming?”

“As much as anything else. So.. yes. In a sense,” he replies vaguely, and flattens her palm. Fervid viridian, diagonally gashed against her skin, and sparking. Far brighter than it is in the waking world. His face must be aglow with green light, cast from below like Varric regaling horrors by the campfire. Solas shifts her hand higher. He is not immune to vanity.

The Anchor extends to the natural lines of her palm, they too shine Breach-green, and there are matching lights beneath the skin of her entire palm, radiating and shifting, as wisps do in water. 

“You may lie back, Inquisitor. Elanna. There is no cause for concern, but I would look at it a while longer. The way you interpret the Anchor is fascinating.”

Elanna hums, twitches her hand against his wrist, then flops back. “Take your time. I’d feel if anything was wrong.”

“You likely would,” he agrees. “But it is good to do some tests.”

Among the countless ones Solas ran after the Conclave, as she lay unconscious and his nerves screamed at him to flee Ferelden entirely, was whether his power reached beyond Elanna’s flesh. Whether the Breach had rended her essence as well. All he’d discerned was that his magic seemed centralised to her hand, as was all the magic within her. A reminder of Fen’harel’s worst mistake, as he’d beheld the newest.

Dalish, incapable of magic, born severed from the Fade, Elanna Lavellan has suffered from so many of his follies. But due to the Anchor, she can dream with lucidity. Enter his dreams. Toy with clouds. Enjoy the silver lining; exposure to the Orb of Destruction changed her spirit. 

Meaning its creator may be able to continue doing so.

As its creator has attempted to.

Whenever their group makes camp, Elanna sits patiently as Solas amends any damage done to her by the Anchor’s magic, and, on occasion, he tries to press new magic in. With Elanna actually conscious and upright, he can track results more obvious than ‘breathe four times in the next ten seconds’, as he tried to in Haven.

‘Say it’s raining’, ‘I should state my dislike of strawberries’, ‘you want to pick that elfroot there’; dozens of attempts, with no indication of her being affected. Neither intensity nor phrasing nor emotional disposition changed a thing. The Anchor simply behaved as usual: sparking, sundering, rebellious to any but the 'god' of that very trait. At Solas’ command, the Anchor would quieten and heal her, but at such commands, its bearer did nothing. Thus her spirit seems impermeable to his influence—when she’s awake. 

Here in the Fade, the very magic the Anchor is tied to.. It is good to do some tests. 

Tenderly, tentatively, he eases the Anchor open, and orders it. Scratch the Inquisitor’s cheek. My cheek is itchy. Scratch your cheek. I must scratch my cheek, I must scratch the Inquisitor’s cheek.

Her hand thumps to the ground, and he glances over.

“Can I shape the clouds?” she asks, drumming her fingers against her clavicle. “I can only change whether they’re.. there.”

“That is a question only you can answer,” he replies, pulling the Anchor closer. “The limits of your will are yours to test, not mine to declare.” 

As Elanna returns to her twirling, Solas allows the leash of his self-control some slack. The Anchor may respond to him if he perceives it for what it is.

The veridian flickers beneath her skin disappear; the skin of her palm pales to a slake-lime white, and rather than a dagger-slit of a wound, the Anchor is the Breach, writ small. Rendered in sap green, pooling paler over time. The scent of its magic roils to a stench. Fen’harel’s magic, Solas’ magic, his magic, unstable and spoilt by its suspension in impurity.

Solas flicks his eyes over to her. “Did you find your answer, Inquisitor?”

“Yes,” she murmurs, occupied by the canvas of dusk. “Oh. Yes, I did. I can shape the clouds, and I’ve made a recurve bow. And it’s Elanna.”

I’m dropping my arm, he presses the rot-wet flesh of her palm. Wow, my arm is very tired. 

“I apologise, Elanna. What are you making now?” Though she will drop her arm before they finish speaking. Solas would be happy if I dropped my arm. Solas will hurt me unless I drop my arm. 

She flicks with her finger to the side, and will drop her arm momentarily. “An arrow.”

Laia laves’lav, Elanna. Drop your arm. Drop your arm or I will kill your friends.

“You'll soon need a quiver,” he says. Elanna whistles, before setting to work on, evidently, that very thing.

Solas ignores the relief nudging at the bottom of his stomach. Commands are not compulsions; emotion carries them to fruition. He needs to feel something she would not, and press it through. Something she can easily shake off. What would not overwhelm her? Sensitive as this girl is, compared to Solas she is effectively an extroverted Tranquil. 

.. What a cruel thought to have about someone that trusts him.

Ah, he thinks, shame would do well.

Whereas Elanna being embarrassed about anything is unfathomable, shame is as old a friend to Solas as many a spirit; shame can be easily found if he knows where to look. 

He looks at her. “I will not trouble you much longer.” 

“Being self-deprecating isn’t being polite,” she says, smearing evening darkness over the sky. “Don’t worry.”

Being able to not worry in the future depends upon Solas worrying now, and so, he disobeys her. With one of his hands, he braces the Anchor, and with the other, he dips two fingers into the damp slit of it. He stares. And feels nothing. Even rocking them in and out and tracing the top of the Anchor lightly, he can only think of his fingers, in the Anchor, which is on Elanna’s palm. It is incomparable to anything else. 

Lechery seems unavailable as a route towards feeling shame. 

He presses.

I am lecherous, merely in denial. She is trying to court him—or whatever Dalish do, and the existence of her willfully ignorant people is his fault in the first place—and he has a recurring fantasy of cupping her face, stroking the velvet-soft skin by her jaw, and kissing her for hours. That is his primary fantasy about a red-blooded young woman who wants him, thus, something worse must lurk beneath. As for his prospective performance in the bedroom, there would be little shame to be had there, beyond that he would lay with her under false pretenses, is over four thousand years old, and could force her hand to do anything including rending itself from her body.

He consistently tests to see if he can control her mind! 

Solas cannot even bear to look at her and check if this is working, what a coward he is. 

Even if it was working, and she was as sick to her core with shame as he is, she’d likely still offer a pinched smile; she is indomitably sweet and he meets that with suspicion, for he is a waste of time, and she is still clueless as to how lowly he thought of her when they met. How monstrous he’s being to her, no better than the Evanuris, stringing along—

“You’re so handsome when you’re pondering.” 

Her affection is birdsong. 

Shuddering, Solas lifts his fingers from the Anchor. “I.. thank you, Inquisitor.” 

Posture unchanged, expression relaxed, her other hair is twirling a ringlet. Shamelessly. He rubs his thumb along her palm and she smiles; wide, carefree. Relief leaps over his stomach and flips it over. If touching her risked controlling her mind, he would’ve secluded himself upon a scaffold in the rotunda until Corypheus was defeated, but there is no such risk. Elanna is safe with him. 

The Anchor returns to the green lightning storm that Elanna imagines it to be, and Solas could kiss it; instead, he squeezes it, and is relieved further when he thinks that he can kiss her in future.

“I’m free from staring at your hand,” he murmurs, and finds himself sinking closer. He does not find himself regretting it. 

That same bashful look she had in Haven, right before he kissed her, is what he's looking at now. He could kiss her now. Snow pools beneath them, and the sun turns wintry bright. Elanna almost shivers, he sees the skin prickling on her neck before she catches herself. Is it restraint? Is that why I cannot feel you?

“So,” she says, raising herself a little to look around, “you’ve moved us to Haven, and your staring to my mouth.” 

With a laugh, Solas sets her hand back at her side. “I’m looking. To stare requires.. ah, there. It has been long enough. Accuse me now.”

“So!” Elanna gasps. “Haven and all that, and you’re staring at my mouth!”

“I am.” He flicks his eyes up to hers. “I was.”

Elanna links their hands together again, and he presses them to the ground; lightly, only enough for him to leverage himself over her and return to staring at her lips. The top is a sharp bow, the lower rounded and chapped. 

“Tell me to stop,” he says, and pauses. Just to test, just once more. “And I will.”

“Oh, so we’ll be here for hours." She bobs her head up to kiss him, and he dodges back with an amused scoff, as if longing has not worn his restraint to the quick, as if her paltry mortal sheen of nonchalance could stay on him, when his blood is quaking with desire, he is shaking with it, and he can kiss her right now, she wants him to, she’s slipped her hands free an—

He jerks away before their lips meet.

“Wait,” he gasps, shivering. “Don’t. Forgive me, I—”

“Oh!” And she’s already several feet away from him, sat against one of the wood barns. “I’m sorry! Ir abelas! Ir abelas, Solas, I wasn’t—”

“You do not need to apologise. I am just..” Why did he bring them here? Why did he not warm the air?! He does so now, for the Inquisitor is wearing silk, she must be freezing. “I am just gathering my thoughts. You were perfect.”

There, he thinks, have that, a compliment tossed over to keep the quickling busy while the immortal wracks through his empty head, because thousands of years in the Fade evidently taught him nothing.

While her mouth stops apologising, the wide eyes above continue to. 

“I overwhelmed myself. Ir abelas, Elanna,” he says, and stands, brushing the snow from his trousers. Which he is still wearing. Which are laced. And linen, as always, and loose; it seems nobody’s fantasies ran entirely off the leash. “You would wake more easily if at Skyhold. I can return us there in a moment.” 

She nods, with a blush from what may be affection, or simply understanding; a kind word overheard in the other room. Steadily, his emotions cool; irritability and confusion and desire are flecks, dust, easily dispersed as he wrings his hands a few times. There remains a longing for her, but that seems unavoidable.

Reasonably sure he won’t warp the dream further, Solas flashes a smile over to her. 

“I’m going to hold your hand," she says, getting to her feet. "What if you accidentally toss me over the mountains on our way?” When she laces their fingers together once more, the Anchor sparks between them. 

“Historically speaking, you do not need to hold my hand to prevent my doing that." 

“I didn’t say that I did.” She beams.

"Ah," he laughs, and squeezes her hand. Ease floods his body and a sudden urge to continue laughing, both of which are beyond uncharacteristic—

Ah. Solas glances at their joined hands.

Any emotion pressed into the Anchor seems to be obliterated before it can land in Elanna. After explosions, debris.

─

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